Ezra Chapter 7 begins with the genealogy of Ezra. He traces his lineage back to Aaron the brother of Moses. Ezra was very successful and the great kings of Persia and Babylon granted his requests because “The hand of God was on Him” it says in verse 6. He led a large contingent of Jewish immigrants from Babylon to Jerusalem and they arrived safely because “the good hand of the Lord His God was on him” according to verse 9.

Wouldn’t you love to have that said about you? “The good hand of the Lord His God was one him.” I sure would! What made him special? It wasn’t his genealogy. Many of the exiles were priests who traced their lineage back to Aaron. It wasn’t his resources. He was totally dependent on others for the finances he needed to lead God’s people. It wasn’t a great gift, or skill, or strength like many of the others. But there was one thing that might be called the source of his success. What was it? What was he successful in leading God’s people back to their promised land? I believe 7:10 tells us why.

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to ?teach His statutes and rules in Israel.” All of Ezra’s success can be traced back to his passion for God’s Word.  Verse 6 tells us that Ezra was “…skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given.”

As the leader of God’s people, the Bible was important to him! It used to be important to our leaders as well. It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible – George Washington.  Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties.  Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives – U. S. Grant. Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems that face us today—if only we would read and believe – Ronald Reagan.

Chuck
“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.” Jude 20-21 (NLT)